Porsche 911 Turbo (2010) unveiled

My experience of the Porsche ownership experience is that it's pretty good. The 997.2 turbo surprises in the extent of the revisions - new engine, new gearbox, new driving aids plus the cosmetic updates of the rest of the 997 range. The turbo doesn't retain value as well as either the lower cost cars or the harder-edged track-oriented cars but my 4 years with a 996 turbo just higlighted the ground covering ability of the car cross country. The new car is a fantastic ownership proposition.

Chickenfeed

Porsche embody a strict policy of change by incremental development. Unlike other car companies they don't believe in producing a new model, giving it a new grille a year later to stimulate sales, and junking it year five. Porsche have a ten year cycle to the models, with incremental changes (usually) in year three and seven.  Some would argue it keeps values stable. And the same car they "keep making over and over again" as you put it, is one hellova car. Why be ungracious? Praise where praise is due. If only MG  had kept making the same car over and over again.

I am no admirer of the obsessive search for more horsepower, but it would be hypocricy to deny we all love it. To know the engine in our car is bigger and faster than our neighbour's is a matter of pride and joy. Better add a noisy sports exhaust to proclaim it. He has the 4.2 version? I'll get the 4.2 supercharged version. Since the sixties car companies have got themselves on a competitive treadmill over it because that's what we the buyers want. Only now are they beginning to realise bigger isn't necessarily faster or more efficient. (Colin Chapman told them that in the sixties.) Look forward to more three and four pot engines, and V6s with turbos.

What do other contributers think?

Wittenfrog

Thank you for your considered reply.

I have heard those views on early 911s before, but I have also heard the opposite, and from people in the car industry who know how not to waste their money on cars.

As for the Boxster: Great disappointment all round when the jaw-dropping concept appeared as a bloated water retentive production model, complete with Gothic style plastic interior, only lately redrafted to add muscularity, but still with its rear engine locked away for serving by Porsche mechanics only. I hear it drives well around the twisties but when I test drove the first model it seemed divorced from the road and sterile as far as driving pleasure is concerned.

For my part I find the car irritatingly symmetrical.